News from New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

For more information contact: Kara Smith, 518-474-8977

OMRDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter Salutes China-bound Special Olympians

ALBANY, NY (09/17/2007; 1533)(readMedia)-- Diana Jones Ritter, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, will take part in a pre-flight send-off celebration for 30 New York state athletes headed to China for the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in China.

The celebratory dinner takes place Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Wolf Rd. in Albany. The athletes will depart for Shanghai, China from Albany International Airport the following morning.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this celebration and we intend to send these athletes off in style,” said Commissioner Ritter who will speak at the event. “It is a pleasure to honor these talented individuals. Their efforts will help promote understanding, inclusion and acceptance for those with developmental disabilities worldwide.”

According to Special Olympics New York, athletes traveling to the World Summer Games from New York state include: a 10-member volleyball team from the Capital District; a 15-member softball team from the Hudson Valley; a Capital Region aquatics athlete; an aquatics and a bowling athlete from the Genesee region; one bowling and two track and field athletes from New York City; and one track and field athlete from Long Island. Athletes will compete in more than 20 different Olympic-type sports.

The theme of the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games is “I Know I Can.”

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